Leg stretching apparatus

ABSTRACT

A leg stretching apparatus can be safely used without a risk of damage, with a simple coupling and can be conveniently installed at a site at which leg stretching is desired to enable efficient leg stretching. The leg stretching apparatus includes a fixing plate in which a first fixing plate, which includes a plurality of coupling grooves, and a second fixing plate, which includes a plurality of coupling protrusions corresponding to the coupling grooves, are detachably configured. A fixing part has one end coupled to the first fixing plate and another end equipped with an adjusting part. An elastic string has one end fixed to the fixing part and another end extending in a longitudinal direction of the fixing part, and opposingly branched with two free end portions behind the first fixing plate. A moving part is installed at the second fixing plate to guide the branching of the elastic string.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0083615, filed on Jul. 1, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a leg stretching apparatus, and more particularly, to a leg stretching apparatus which can be safely used and prevented from being damaged only with a simple coupling structure that is connected without a complex mechanical configuration and can be conveniently installed at a site at which leg stretching is desired to enable efficient leg stretching.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Stretching is an exercise for extending a muscle, a tendon, a ligament, or the like of a body part and refers to an exercise that helps increase a working range of joints, maintain and improve flexibility, and prevent injury to a body.

The principle of stretching is to extend a muscle more than a natural state by expanding a length of the muscle and is to extend the muscle to a length increased by about 10% in comparison to a normal length of the muscle mostly for improving flexibility.

Stretching, which can relax a tense human body and improve flexibility as described above, can be performed by extending a muscle of a torso, an arm, or a leg of a human body without a separate apparatus or can be performed by extending a muscle of a part that is desired to be stretched using a stretching apparatus which facilitates stretching.

In the case in which extending a muscle is attempted using a stretching apparatus, a muscle of a part desired to be stretched is extended using a stretching apparatus for the lower body or the upper body depending on a part desired to be stretched.

Particularly, although a muscle of the upper body that is desired to be stretched can be smoothly extended using both arms in the case of the upper body of the human body, stretching efficiency can be improved using a separate stretching apparatus in the case of the lower body of the human body.

For example, in the case in which an extension of the lower body (legs) of the human body is attempted using a stretching apparatus, stretching apparatuses that enable a user's legs to be stretched have been proposed, as in Document (1), Document (2), and Document (3).

However, because the above-mentioned conventional leg stretching apparatuses have no differences despite different characteristics (different lower body lengths) of users or have a structure in which an upright user uses his or her own weight to extend lower body muscles, such leg stretching apparatuses have a mechanical configuration in which lower body muscles are tensed and stretching is difficult, or, when an angle between two legs is increased during use, foot rests thereof cannot move corresponding to the increased angle. Therefore, there are problems in that it is difficult to easily stretch legs with such leg stretching apparatuses and it is difficult for a user to conveniently use such leg stretching apparatuses due to a complex mechanical configuration thereof.

Also, because it is difficult to conveniently carry or store such leg stretching apparatuses, there is a problem in that it is difficult for a user to change an installation position and easily use such stretching apparatuses.

Further, when such stretching apparatuses are partially damaged during use, because it is difficult to easily change only the damaged portion and use the stretching apparatuses, there is a problem in that an unnecessary maintenance cost, such as a repurchase cost, is increased.

RELATED ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

(Patent Document 1) Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2004-0073092 (Aug. 19, 2004)

(Patent Document 2) Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1031455 (Apr. 19, 2011)

(Patent Document 3) Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1506419 (Mar. 20, 2015)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been devised to solve the above-described problems, and an objective of the present invention is to provide a leg stretching apparatus which can be safely used without a risk of damage only with a simple coupling structure that is connected without a complex mechanical configuration, and can provide an efficient leg stretching effect according to an exercise type and body shape of a user just by a position of an elastic string being adjusted.

Further, another objective of the present invention is to provide a leg stretching apparatus that can be easily stored and carried due to a configuration of a fixing plate, a fixing part, an elastic string, and a moving part which are configured to be separable and assemblable, and a damaged portion thereof can be easily replaced and used

To achieve the above objectives, according to the present invention, a leg stretching apparatus includes a fixing plate in which a first fixing plate, which includes a plurality of coupling grooves, and a second fixing plate, which includes a plurality of coupling protrusions corresponding to the coupling grooves, are detachably configured; a fixing part having one end coupled to the first fixing plate and the other end equipped with an adjusting part; an elastic string having one end fixed to the fixing part and the other end extending in a longitudinal direction of the fixing part, and opposingly branched so as to have two free ends behind the first fixing plate; and a moving part installed at the second fixing plate to guide the branching of the elastic string.

The moving part may be formed of a pair of moving bars hinge-coupled to the second fixing plate to rotate along a constant trajectory.

The fixing part may include one or more guide rings configured to guide the elastic string in the longitudinal direction, and the moving part may include one or more connecting rings configured to guide movement of the elastic string in the longitudinal direction.

The fixing part may include one or more insertion holes to which the guide rings are detachably coupled in the longitudinal direction, and the moving part may include one or more fixing holes to which the connecting rings are detachably coupled in the longitudinal direction.

The moving part may include a guide groove into which the elastic string is inserted for movement thereof to be guided and withdrawal holes through which the elastic string is inserted and withdrawn.

The guide rings may be formed of rings or pulleys.

The moving bars may include a first moving bar having a coupling hole therein and a second moving bar slidably coupled to the coupling hole.

The first moving bar may include one or more insertion holes in a longitudinal direction thereof, the second moving bar may include one or more fixing holes corresponding to the insertion holes, and the insertion holes and the fixing holes may be fixed by an engaging member.

The adjusting part may include a fixing body disposed in the fixing part and an adjusting handle having an end portion of the elastic string fixed thereto and rotatably coupled to an upper side of the fixing body.

The fixing body may include a rotation hole to which the adjusting handle is coupled and a support bar to which one end of the adjusting handle is adhered to be supported, and the adjusting handle may include a handle body having a through-hole and rotatably coupled to the rotation hole, an adjusting bar having a movement hole disposed at one side thereof and slidably coupled to the through-hole, and a fixing bar connected to the movement hole to be vertically movable.

The fixing part may further include a movement preventer formed of any one selected from rubber, a synthetic resin, and a metal material.

The elastic string may further include foot rests at ends of the free end portions.

The second fixing plate may further include a goods storage compartment.

The moving bars may further include locking tools, and the locking tools may restrain each other via the fixing bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing exemplary embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a leg stretching apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a coupling perspective view of the leg stretching apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a use state view of the leg stretching apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is another use state view of the leg stretching apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a leg stretching apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a leg stretching apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention h a touch screen function;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the leg stretching apparatus according to FIG. 6 is folded;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the leg stretching apparatus according to FIG. 6 is separated;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the leg stretching apparatus according to FIG. 6 is stored;

FIG. 11 is a rear view illustrating a state in which a storage compartment is disposed at the leg stretching apparatus according to FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is a rear view illustrating a state in which a locking tool and a fixing bar are disposed at a moving bar of the leg stretching apparatus according to FIG. 6; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a leg stretching apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Terms or words used in this specification and the claims are not to be interpreted as having general or dictionary meanings and should be interpreted as having meanings and concepts which correspond with the technical spirit of the present invention based on the principle that the inventor can properly define the concept of the terms to describe his or her own invention in the best possible way.

Various embodiments described herein and configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that various equivalents and modified examples which can replace the embodiments at the time of filing this application may belong to the claims of the present invention.

First, a leg stretching apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

According to the present invention, a leg stretching apparatus includes a fixing plate 100 in which a first fixing plate 110, which includes a plurality of coupling grooves 110 a, and a second fixing plate 120, which includes a plurality of coupling protrusions 120 a corresponding to the coupling grooves 110 a, are detachably configured; a fixing part 200 having one end coupled to the first fixing plate 110 and the other end equipped with an adjusting part 250; an elastic string 300 having one end fixed to the fixing part 200 and the other end extending in a longitudinal direction of the fixing part 200, and opposingly branched so as to have two free ends behind the first fixing plate 110; and a moving part 400 installed at the second fixing plate 120 to guide the branching of the elastic string 300.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the fixing plate 100 is configured to be coupled to each of the fixing part 200 and the moving part 400.

That is, the fixing plate 100 is configured so that one end Ff the fixing part 200 is fixed to the first fixing plate 110 of the fixing plate 100, and the moving part 400 is fixed to the second fixing plate 120 of the fixing plate 100.

Due to this configuration, the fixing part 200 and the moving part 400 may be configured to be separable, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and may be coupled and used, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, when coupling is attempted.

The fixing part 200 is preferably formed in a shape of a long bar and, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, is configured to have one end in the longitudinal direction coupled to the first fixing plate 110 and the other end in the longitudinal direction equipped with the adjusting part 250 that is coupled to the elastic string 300.

Here, the fixing part 200 includes one or more guide rings 200 a configured to guide the elastic string 300.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixing part 200 includes one or more insertion holes 200 b that are disposed in the longitudinal direction and to which the guide rings 200 a may be detachably coupled.

That is, in the above configuration, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the fixing part 200 and the moving part 400 are respectively coupled to the first fixing plate 110 and the second fixing plate 120 of the fixing plate 100, the elastic string 300 connected to the adjusting part 250 of the fixing part 200 is easily guided toward the moving part 400, and connection positions thereof can be firmly maintained.

The elastic string 300 is configured to be coupled as described above, has one end coupled to the adjusting part 250 and the other end guided through the guide rings 200 a, is opposingly branched so as to have two free ends behind the first fixing plate 110, and is connected to the moving part 400 in a direction toward the moving part 400.

For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the elastic string 300 is connected to the fixing part 200 and the moving part 400 so that the elastic string 300 can be guided from a central portion of the moving part 400 toward both end portions while the one end of the elastic string 300 is coupled to the adjusting part 250.

For this, the moving part 400 includes, in a longitudinal direction thereof, one or more connecting rings 400 a configured to guide movement of the elastic string 300 and one or more fixing holes 400 b to which the connecting rings 400 a are detachably coupled.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, due to the above-described configuration, the elastic string 300 having the one end coupled to the adjusting part 250 of the fixing part 200 is guided toward the moving part 400 through the guide rings 200 a of the fixing part 200 and is then opposingly branched in the longitudinal direction of the moving part 400 by the configuration of the connecting rings 400 a so that the elastic string 300 is connected to the moving part 400 to have two free ends facing each other.

Also, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the moving part 400 is preferably formed in the shape of a long bar and formed with a metal material or a plastic material that is lightweight and has high strength.

Although the guide rings 200 a have been illustrated and described herein as having a shape of a ring through which the elastic string 300 passes to be coupled thereto, various other configurations including a pulley (not illustrated) capable of guiding the elastic string 300 can be applied to the guide rings 200 a as long as the configuration is able to guide and restrain movement of the elastic string 300.

Also, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the fixing part 200 may further include a movement preventer 210 formed of any one selected from rubber, a synthetic resin, and a metal material disposed at a lower end thereof.

The movement preventer 210 is a configuration for preventing the leg stretching apparatus from sliding on a floor surface on which the leg stretching apparatus is installed and is formed of a material capable of easily forming a frictional force when the leg stretching apparatus is adhered to the floor surface.

Here, although the movement preventer 210 is illustrated and described as being disposed at the lower end of the fixing part 200, the movement preventer 210 may be disposed anywhere, including a lower end of the moving part 400 as well as the fixing part 200, depending on a choice of a user as long as the leg stretching apparatus can be prevented from sliding on a floor surface on which the leg stretching apparatus is installed.

The elastic string 300 may further include foot rests 310, on which feet of a user who is stretching can be seated, disposed at ends of the free end portions branched via the moving part 400.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the second fixing plate 120 may further include a goods storage compartment 121 configured to store simple goods of the user.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the moving part 400 includes a guide groove 400 c into which the elastic string 300 is inserted so that movement thereof is guided and withdrawal holes 400 d through which the elastic string 300 is inserted into the guide groove 400 c and withdrawn to the outside of the moving part 400 from an inserted state.

In the configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the elastic string 300 opposingly branched in the longitudinal direction of the moving part 400 is inserted into the withdrawal holes 400 d of the moving part 400, is guided to be opposingly branched along the guide groove 400 c, and is then withdrawn to the outside of the moving part 400 through the withdrawal holes 400 d.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 10, according to still another embodiment of the present invention, the moving part 400 may include a pair of moving bars 410 coupled to the second fixing plate 120 by a hinge to rotate along a constant trajectory.

In the above configuration, because the moving part 400 includes the pair of moving bars 410 capable of rotating about the second fixing plate 120 along a constant trajectory, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 10, the leg stretching apparatus according to the present invention can be conveniently stored even in a narrow storage space by the pair of moving bars 410 coupled by the hinge being folded toward the second fixing plate 120.

Particularly, even when storing the leg stretching apparatus is attempted by the moving bars 410 according to still another embodiment of the present invention being folded as illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 10, the first fixing plate 110 and the second fixing plate 120 constituting the fixing part 200 are separated to more efficiently carry and store the leg stretching apparatus as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.

When the moving part 400 is formed to be separable by the moving bars 410 according to still another embodiment of the present invention described above, the moving part 400 may further include locking tools 413 in the moving bars 410 as illustrated in FIG. 12, and the locking tools 413 may restrain each other via a fixing bar 414. In this way, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10, it is easy for the moving bars 410 to remain folded when storing the leg stretching apparatus is attempted by the moving bars 410 being folded.

Also, as illustrated in FIG. 13, according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the moving bars 410 may include a first moving bar 411 having a coupling hole 411 a therein and a second moving bar 412 slidably coupled to the coupling hole 411 a.

Here, the first moving bar 411 includes one or more insertion holes 411 b in a longitudinal direction thereof, the second moving bar 412 includes one or more fixing holes 412 a corresponding to the insertion holes 411 b, and the insertion holes 411 b and the fixing holes 412 a may be fixed by an engaging member P.

In other words, due to the above configuration, a position of the elastic string 300 guided in the longitudinal direction of the first moving bar 411 and the second moving bar 412 can be adjusted by the coupling between the first moving bar 411 and the second moving bar 412, and leg stretching efficiency of the user can be improved.

Also, after coupling between the first moving bar 411 and the second moving bar 412 is adjusted, an adjusted coupling state thereof can be firmly maintained by the engaging member P being engaged with the insertion holes 411 b and the fixing holes 412 a.

The above-described adjusting part 250 of the present invention includes a fixing body 251 disposed in the fixing part 200 and an adjusting handle 252 having an end portion of the elastic string 300 fixed thereto and rotatably coupled to an upper side of the fixing body 251.

Here, the fixing body 251 may include a rotation hole 251 a to which the adjusting handle 252 is coupled and a support bar 251 b to which one end of the adjusting handle 252 is adhered to be supported, and the adjusting handle 252 includes a handle body 252 a having a through-hole 252 a-1 and rotatably coupled to the rotation hole 251 a, an adjusting bar 252 b having a movement hole 252 b-1 disposed at one side thereof and slidably coupled to the through-hole 252 a-1, and a fixing bar 252 c connected to the movement hole 252 b-1 to be vertically moveable.

The above configuration is to enable the user to easily adjust a position and elastic force of the elastic string 300 and stretch his or her legs by gripping and rotating the adjusting handle 252 to which one end of the elastic string 300 is connected. After the position and elastic force of the elastic string 300 are adjusted, the fixing bar 252 c remains adhered to the support bar 251 b to firmly maintain the position of the elastic string 300.

Various changes may be applied to the configuration of the adjusting part 250 according to a choice of a user as long as the configuration allows the user to easily adjust the position and elastic force of the elastic string 300.

As described above, when the leg stretching apparatus of the present invention is used, because the user can easily adjust the position and elastic force of the elastic string and use the leg stretching apparatus, leg stretching efficiency of the user may be improved. When carrying and storing the leg stretching apparatus is attempted, the leg stretching apparatus may be easily carried and stored by separating the adjusting part and the moving part.

According to the configuration of the present invention, there are advantages in that the leg stretching apparatus can be safely used without a risk of damage only with a simple coupling structure that is connected without a complex mechanical configuration, and an efficient leg stretching effect can be provided according to an exercise type and a body shape of a user just by a position of an elastic string being adjusted.

Further, according to the present invention, there are advantages in that the leg stretching apparatus can be easily stored and carried due to a configuration of a fixing plate, a fixing part, an elastic string, and a moving part which are configured to be separable and assemblable, and a damaged portion thereof can be easily replaced and be used so that convenience in use is ensured, and accordingly, an unnecessary increase in manufacturing cost and maintenance cost can be prevented.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to particular embodiments, it should be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention can be improved and changed in various ways without departing from the gist or the scope of the present invention provided by the claims below. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A leg stretching apparatus comprising: a fixing plate in which a first fixing plate, which includes a plurality of coupling grooves, and a second fixing plate, which includes a plurality of coupling protrusions corresponding to the coupling grooves, are detachably configured; a fixing part having one end coupled to the first fixing plate and the other end equipped with an adjusting part; an elastic string having one end fixed to the fixing part and the other end extending in a longitudinal direction of the fixing part, and opposingly branched so as to have two free ends behind the first fixing plate; and a moving part installed at the second fixing plate to guide the branching of the elastic string, wherein: the adjusting part includes a fixing body disposed in the fixing part and an adjusting handle having an end portion of the elastic string fixed thereto and rotatably coupled to an upper side of the fixing body; the fixing body includes a rotation hole having the adjusting handle coupled thereto and a support bar having one end of the adjusting handle adhered thereto to be supported; and the adjusting handle includes a handle body having a through-hole and rotatably coupled to the rotation hole, an adjusting bar having a movement hole disposed at one side thereof and slidably coupled to the through-hole, and a fixing bar connected to the movement hole to be vertically movable.
 2. The leg stretching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moving part is formed of a pair of moving bars hinge-coupled to the second fixing plate to rotate along a constant trajectory.
 3. The leg stretching apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fixing part includes one or more guide rings configured to guide the elastic string in the longitudinal direction, and the moving part includes one or more connecting rings configured to guide movement of the elastic string in the longitudinal direction.
 4. The leg stretching apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fixing part includes one or more insertion holes to which the guide rings are detachably coupled in the longitudinal direction, and the moving part includes one or more fixing holes to which the connecting rings are detachably coupled in the longitudinal direction.
 5. The leg stretching apparatus of claim 3, wherein the guide rings are formed of rings or pulleys.
 6. The leg stretching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moving part includes a guide groove into which the elastic string is inserted for movement thereof to be guided and withdrawal holes through which the elastic string is inserted and withdrawn.
 7. The leg stretching apparatus of claim 2, wherein the moving bars include: a first moving bar having a coupling hole therein; and a second moving bar slidably coupled to the coupling hole.
 8. The leg stretching apparatus of claim 7, wherein: the first moving bar includes one or more insertion holes in a longitudinal direction thereof; the second moving bar includes one or more fixing holes corresponding to the insertion holes; and the insertion holes and the fixing holes are fixed by an engaging member.
 9. The leg stretching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fixing part further includes a movement preventer formed of any one selected from rubber, a synthetic resin, and a metal material.
 10. The leg stretching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elastic string further includes foot rests at ends of the free end portions.
 11. The leg stretching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second fixing plate further includes a goods storage compartment.
 12. The leg stretching apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the moving bars further include locking tools; and the locking tools restrain each other via the fixing bar.
 13. The leg stretching apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fixing part includes one or more guide rings configured to guide the elastic string in the longitudinal direction, and the moving part includes one or more connecting rings configured to guide movement of the elastic string in the longitudinal direction.
 14. The leg stretching apparatus of claim 13, wherein the fixing part includes one or more insertion holes to which the guide rings are detachably coupled in the longitudinal direction, and the moving part includes one or more fixing holes to which the connecting rings are detachably coupled in the longitudinal direction.
 15. The leg stretching apparatus of claim 13, wherein the guide rings are formed of rings or pulleys. 